Method for the diagnosis and follow up of schizophrenia and other mental and neurodegenerative disorders

ABSTRACT

A method for the diagnosis and follow up of a mental disorder or of a neurodegenerative disorder in an individual, comprises: (i) measuring mRNA of D 3  dopamine receptor and/or of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 AChR) and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the D 3  dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between α7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase in the D 3  dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder, wherein said increase in the D 3  dopamine receptor mRNA and/or decrease in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual is correlated to said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder. When the mental disorder is schizophrenia, an increase of above 1.6 fold in the D 3  dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease of more than 20% in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having schizophrenia.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis and follow-up of schizophrenia and other mental and neurodegenerative disorders, and kits for use in said methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric disorder afflicting about one percent of the population. It is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorders in organizing thoughts logically, and emotional withdrawal. There is a well-known tendency for schizophrenia to run in families.

Although the exact pathogenesis of schizophrenia is still not known precisely, a common belief is that excessive activity at dopaminergic synapses in the brain plays a prominent role. To date, a definitive diagnosis of schizophrenia requires a 6-month duration of symptomatology, and relies on heterogeneous symptoms. Because there is neither an effective biological marker for identifying schizophrenia (Willner, 1997; Hietala and Syvalahti, 1996), nor an accurate and rapid diagnosis to ensure more optimal management at an early stage in, the illness, there remains a vital need for a convenient assay for diagnosis and follow-up of schizophrenia.

Most of the drugs used to treat schizophrenia act to control the symptoms by. neuroreceptor antagonism. Moreover, the dopaminergic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by the close correlation between clinical efficacy of antipsychotic medications. and their potency to antagonize the binding of dopamine to its receptors (Creese et al., 1976).

Dopamine receptors are divided into two subclasses D1 and D2. The D1 subclass contains the D₁ and D₅ receptor subtypes, and the D2 subclass contains the D₂, D₃ and D₄ subtypes (Levant, 1997). The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia relates specifically to the D2 subclass. Notably, most drugs effective in treating schizophrenia exhibit D2 receptor antagonistic activity, and administration of a selective D1-like antagonist has been reported to result in the worsening of symptoms (Karlsson. et al., 1995). Among the receptors in the D2 subclass (D₂, D₃ and D₄), the D₃ receptor is located principally in an area of the brain that could be very relevant to schizophrenia, the nucleus accumbens (Willner, 1997). Studies with positron-emission tomography and postmortem brain tissue have indicated increased levels of D2like dopamine receptors in schizophrenics when compared with nonschizophrenic patients (Seeman and Niznik, 1990). Thus, the level of dopamine receptor could be employed as a marker for schizophrenia if it could be analyzed on an available tissue, preferably a peripheral one.

High affinity binding of dopaminergic ligands, as well as the presence of mRNA of several dopamine receptor subtypes (D₃, D₄ and D₅) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) have been reported in recent years (Ricci et al., 1997, Takahashi et al., 1992). It should be noted, however, that neither D₂ nor D₁ dopamine receptor subtypes, which are the most abundant receptors in the brain and belong to the D2 and the D1 subclasses respectively, have been detected in lymphocytes. Although the significance of dopamine receptors, as well as of other neurotransmitter receptors, in lymphocytes is still not clear, it has been suggested that they may reflect corresponding brain receptors. Several-studies have demonstrated the increased binding of dopamine antagonists hi lymphocytes of schizophrenic patients as compared with healthy individuals (Bondy et al., 1984; Bondy et al., 1985). In addition, a previous study carried out in the laboratory of the present inventors has demonstrated that spiperone (a D2 antagonist) binding in peripheral blood lymphocytes is higher in neuroleptic responders as compared with treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients (Grodzicki et al., 1990). However, the observed differences in binding studies were rather low and often not significant. The discrepancies obtained could have resulted from the crossreactivity of radioligands with different subtypes of the receptor and with other receptors (e.g. serotonergic), and from scattered levels of binding sites. Therefore, such binding assays in lymphocytes may not be suitable for a reliable assay for schizophrenia.

Such a correlation between the status of receptors in the brain and in PBLs has also been demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease, where muscarinic receptors are reduced in both brains and lymphocytes (Ferrero et al., 1991). A previous study by Nagai et al. (1996) demonstrated that patients with Parkinson's disease exhibit reduced levels of D₃ receptor mRNA in PBLs, as compared with healthy individuals. These latter findings provide another example of a disease that is associated with an insult in the central nervous system that is reflected in PBLs. This reduction has also been detected in medicated and non-medicated patients.

Central cholinergic systems were also shown to control basic functions of the brain. Acetylcholine mediates synaptic transmission in the vertebrate central nervous system through the activation of two major receptor subtypes, the muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). The muscarinic receptors are G-coupled receptors, and the nicotinic receptors are ligand-gated ionic channels. Nicotinic AChRs are composed of five subunits organized around a central ion channel. Neuronal nicotinic AChRs are usually built as heteropentamers, composed of α(α2-α9), and β(β2-β4) subunits. α7, α8, and α9 can function as homomeric AChRs and are of special interest because they bind the curarinetric neurotoxin, α-bungarotoxin. (α-BTXβ). These receptors are characterized by a rapid rate of desensitization, and a high level of selectivity to calcium.

Several recent studies have suggested that nicotinic α7 AChR may be associated with some aspects of schizophrenia (Guan et al., 1999). Nicotine administration normalizes two psychophysiological deficits, typical for schizophrenia: disordered eye movements, and the P50 auditory evoked potential gating deficit (Olincy et al, 1998). The genes responsible for these two deficits are linked genetically to the chromosomal locus (15q14) of the α7-nicotinic receptor gene (Leonard et at., 2000). α7 AChR has been found to be expressed in the mammalian brain, especially throughout the hippocampus (Hellstrom-Lindahl et al., 1999), a brain region associated with schizophrenia.

Interestingly, the vast majority of schizophrenic patients are smoking. They appear to extract more nicotine than normal smokers, possibly due to different inhalation patterns (Olincy et al., 1997). This fact raised the possibility that nicotine might influence the levels of α7 receptor. However, searching for receptor differences between smokers and nonsmokers in the general population did not reveal any significant differences (Stassen et al., 2000).

Association between the α7 nicotinic receptor levels and Alzheimer's disease has also been investigated. Decrease in the expression of α7 AChR was observed in post mortem tissue from Alzheimer's disease patients, exhibiting a reduction of 36% in the hippocampus (Guan et al., 2000). Burghaus et. al. (2000) repotted a decrease in protein amount of α7 AChR in Alzheimer's disease cortices. Wang et. al. (2000) described an interaction of α7 AChR and β-amyloid (1-42) as a mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. There have been some other conflicting reports demonstrating higher levels of the α7 AchR mRNA in the hippocampus (Hellstrom-Lindahl et al., 1999) as well as in lymphocytes (Hellstrom-Lindahl et al., 1997) of Alzheimer's disease patients, compared to healthy controls.

Freedman et al. (2000) reported that interneurons in the hippocampus and in other forebrain structures are decreased in number and function in subjects with schizophrenia. Decreased α7-nicotinic receptor immunoreactivity was found in the frontal cortex and in the nucleus reticularis thalami of schizophrenic patients (Freedman et al., 2000). Court et. al. (1999) described a reduction in the α-BTX binding, and no significant alterations in the nicotine binding in post mortem brains of schizophrenic patients. A significant decrease in the level of α7 AChR was also observed by Guan et. al. (1999) in the frontal cortex of schizophrenics when compared with controls, suggesting that α7 AChR may be involved in inhibitory neuronal pathways engaged in this disorder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, we measured the mRNA levels of dopamine receptors and of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of schizophrenics and healthy individuals in order to find out if they can serve as peripheral markers for this disorder. Since the inhibitory D2 subclass of dopamine receptors is considered to be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders rather than the D1 subclass, we have focused only on the D₃ and D₄ subtypes, both belonging to the D2 subclass. We have then found a correlation between D₃ dopamine receptor on lymphocytes and schizophrenia, showing a significant elevation of above about 1.6, particularly 2-4, folds in mRNA level of D₃ but not of D₄, in the schizophrenic patients. In addition, a significant decrease (>20%, particularly 20-98%) of the α7 AChR mRNA levels in PBLs of schizophrenic patients was observed. The changes in the mRNA level of the D₃ dopamine receptor and of the α7 AChR in schizophrenic patients are not affected by different drug treatments. Moreover, non-medicated patients exhibit the same pattern, indicating that these changes are not a result of the medical treatment.

The present invention thus relates to the evaluation of the mRNA levels of D₃ dopamine receptor and/or of α7 AChR in PBLs of an individual as reliable peripheral markers for the identification and follow-up of schizophrenia, of other mental disorders, and of neurodegenerative disorders.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and follow-up of a mental disorder or of a neurodegenerative disorder in an individual, comprising:

-   -   (i) measuring mRNA of D₃ dopamine receptor and/or of α7 AChR,         and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of         said individual and of at least one healthy control individual;     -   (ii) calculating the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA         and the control gene mRNA, and/or the ratio between α7 AChR mRNA         and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and     -   (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii)         for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy         control individual, wherein an increase in the ratio of the D₃         dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease in the ratio of the α7         AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy         individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high         likelihood of having said mental disorder or neurodegenerative         disorder, wherein said increase in the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA         and/or decrease in the α7 AchR mRNA in the tested individual is         correlated to said mental disorder or neurodegenerative         disorder.

The mental disorder may be, for example, schizophrenia, maniac depression, Tourette syndrom or a similar disorder, and the neurodegenerative disorder may be, for example, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or Huntington's disease. For each disease or disorder, the mRNA of the D₃ dopamine receptor, and/or of the α7 AChR, and of a control gene are measured in PBLs of tested individuals suffering from said disorder, and in PBLs of healthy control individuals, the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA, and/or the ratio between α7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual is calculated, and the correlation between said increase or decrease is evaluated for each disorder or disease in the same way as described herein in detail for. schizophrenia.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and follow up of schizophrenia in an individual, comprising:

-   -   (i) measuring mRNA of D₃ dopamine receptor and/or of α7 AChR and         of a control gene in PBLs of said individual and of at least one         healthy control individual;     -   (ii) calculating the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA         and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between α7 AChR mRNA         and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and     -   (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii)         for the individual tested for schizophrenia and for the at least         one healthy control individual, wherein an increase of above 1.6         fold, preferably 2-4, in the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a         decrease of more than 20%, preferably 20-98%, in the α7 AChR         mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy         individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high         likelihood of having schizophrenia.

In order to carry out this assay, blood is obtained from individuals, PBLs are isolated therefrom, and total RNA is isolated from the lymphocytes by standard methods as well known in the art. The mRNA of the total RNA is then reverse-transcribed into cDNA that is used for PCR amplification using primers for the D₃ dopamine receptor, for the α7 AChR, and for a control house keeping gene such as β-actin, α-actin, NADH or tubulin. Measuring the D₄ dopamine receptor-mRNA can also serve as a control. Quantification of the PCR products by, densitometry, PCR-ELISA, fluorescence techniques, or Southern blot, correlates to the mRNA levels of the D₃ dopamine receptor, β7 AChR, and of the control gene in the PBLs. For example, when the quantification of the PCR products is carried out by densitometry, the program, in a defined area, gives a number corresponding to the brightness intensity.

In one embodiment, the mRNA level of the D₃ dopamine receptor, and/or of the α7 AChR, and of a control gene of a tested individual, e.g. a schizophrenic individual, is compared with the mRNA level of the D₃ dopamine receptor, and/or of the α7 AChR, and of a control gene of a sole healthy individual, preferably of the same age and sex. In another embodiment, the comparison is made with a pool of PBLs of two or more healthy individuals.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a kit for use in the method of the invention. The kit comprises, for example, (i) means for isolating mRNA from PBLs; (ii) means for reverse transcription and for PCR; and (iii) means for detection of PCR products. The kit may also contain means for separating PBL from whole blood.

In one embodiment, the assay may be carried out by the use of DNA arrays or differential display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 a-1 c shows ethidium bromide staining of D₃, D₄, and β-actin PCR products obtained from mRNA of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of schizophrenic (S) and control healthy (C) individuals.

FIG. 2 shows ethidium bromide staining of β-actin and α7 AChR PCR products obtained from mRNA of PBLs of schizophrenic (Sp) and control healthy (HI) individuals.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of α7 AChR/β-actin mRNA ratios in PBLs of healthy controls (HL), schizophrenic patients (S) and unmedicated patients (tested in their first hospitalization, FH).

FIG. 4 shows a. comparison of α7 AChR/β-actin mRNA ratios in PBL of healthy smokers and non-smokers.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

Experimental

Patients.

Schizophrenic patients were recruited from Tyrat Hacarmel and Beer Yaacov Mental Health Centers, Israel, after providing written informed consent for participation in the study. The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board for human studies in these two mental health centers. All patients were formally diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorder-IV criteria and evaluated by using standard rating scales by a senior psychiatrist. Healthy individuals' age and sex matched the patient group as much as possible.

Lymphocyte Isolation.

Blood (40-50 ml for D₃ dopamine receptor, or 20-30 ml for the α7 AChR) was drawn from the cubital vein into a heparinized plastic syringe, and then transferred into a sterile 50-ml plastic tube. Blood samples were diluted with all equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), were placed onto Ficoll-Paque gradients, and then were centrifuged for 30 minutes at 400×g. The lymphocyte layer was collected, and washed twice in PBS. The resulting pellet was immediately frozen at −80° C. until RNA preparation.

Reverse Transcription—PCR Analysis:

Total RNA was isolated from lymphocytes by the guanidinum-thiocyanate method, and the amount and quality of RNA were determined by spectrophotometry and gel electrophoresis (2% agarose for the D₃ dopamine receptor, or 1.5% for the α7 AChR; GibcoBRL). Two μg of total RNA were reverse transcribed into first-strand cDNA using poly-dT-priming and 20 units of Molony murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase. Two μl cDNA product (80 ng RNA) was used for the PCR amplification at a final. concentration of 1×PCR buffer (Perkin-Elmer), and 1 U of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin-Elmer) in a 25 μl final volume. PCR was carried out in a DNA thermocycler (Minicycler MJ research, MA) for 23 cycles (β-actin), 38 cycles (D₃ and D₄ dopamine receptors), and 39 cycles ((7 AchR). Annealing temperatures for β-actin, for D₃ and for D₄ dopamine receptors was 60° C., while that for α7 AchR was 57° C. The amplification was found to be linear between 30 and 40 cycles for D₃ and D₄ dopamine receptors, as well as for the α7 AChR, and between 19 and 25 cycles for β-actin.

The PCR primers for D₃-, D₄-dopamine receptors, for α7 AchR, and for β-actin were designed to include at least one intron, to eliminate amplification of genomic DNA. Their sequences were as follows: D₃ dopamine receptor- GGAGACGGAAAAGGATCCTCACTCG (nt 655-680); TCAGCAAGACAGGATC TTGAGGAAGG (nt 1203-1177). D₄ dopamine receptor- CGGGATCCCACCCCAGACTCCACC (nt 964-988); CGGAATTCCGTTGCGGAACTCGGC (nt 1240-1216). α7 AChR receptor- AAGTTTGGGTCCTGGTCTTACG (nt 571-592); GATCATGGTGCTGGCGAAGTA (nt 978-958). β-actin- TGAAGTGTGACGTGGACATCCG (nt 96-117); GCTGTCACCTTCACCGTT CCAG (nt 543-522).

Quantification of PCR products was performed by using a densitometer and a SCION IMAGE (Frederick, Md.) analysis, and/or PCR-ELISA.

PCR-ELISA:

PCR was performed as described above except for the use of digoxigenin-labeled dNTPs. PCR products were incubated with biotinylated specific internal primers of the tested fragments that were immobilized in streptavidin-coated microtiter plates. The biotinylated internal primers served as capture probes. The bound digoxigenin-labeled PCR-products were then incubated with anti-digoxigenin-peroxidase conjugate that bound to the digoxigenin residues in the labeled PCR products. Peroxidase substrate solution was added, and the color developed was measured in a microtiter-plate reader.

EXAMPLE 1

Table 1 summarizes the details (ages, sexes, and diagnoses) of schizophrenic patients and healthy controls from whom blood samples were obtained. RT-PCR was performed on total RNA preparations from these blood samples with primers specific for D₃ or D₄ dopamine receptor, and β-actin as a control. The specific PCR products were resolved on 2% agarose gels, and their sequences were verified. For each patient, a sex- and optimal age-matched healthy control was used, and the. level of specific dopamine receptor. mRNA was compared between sick and healthy patients. As depicted in FIG. 1 (a and b) for several representative patients, the signals for D₃ receptor mRNA were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients than in healthy controls. This increase was found to be specific for the D₃ dopamine receptor, because no significant differences in the intensities of D₄ receptor bands were detected between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls (FIGS. 1 b, 1 c).

Quantification of the intensities of the specific D₃ dopamine receptor bands was performed by densitomety. The results obtained for 13 patients are summarized in Table 2. Each schizophrenic patient was compared with a sex- and optimal age-matched healthy individual. For each of them, a ratio of the measured density value for D₃ receptor to the value for β-actin was determined. The ratio of these two values for a patient and a matched healthy control, respectively, represents the increased level (in folds) in D₃ specific mRNA in a given. patient. As shown in Table 2, the increased levels obtained for the 13 patients range between 1.59 and 7.45 (mostly between 2-3). This increase in D₃ receptor mRNA in schizophrenic patients is significantly higher than the reported increases in binding levels and other recently suggested peripheral markers for schizophrenia (Avissar et al., 1997). Furthermore, the increase in D₃ receptor mRNA was not affected by different drug treatments. Although some of the patients received typical treatment and some atypical treatment (see Table 1), it can be noted that all patients exhibited a similar range of increase indicating that this was not a result of specific dopamine-receptor subtype blockade and up-regulation. Moreover, the present inventors found that this increase was not the consequence of a dopamine receptor antagonist treatment, because non-medicated patients (S12, S13) showed a similar increase in D₃ level (see Tables 1 and 2).

Another way to quantify the differences in a specific mRNA level was obtained from PCR-ELISA experiments (see Experimental part). Table 3 summarizes the results obtained from 6 patients. The increased mRNA levels observed are between 1.6 and 3.38 (average increase 2.30±0.63). It should be noted that there is a relatively good agreement between the quantitative values obtained by densitometry and by PCR-ELISA (see patients S1, S4 and S6 in Tables 2 and 3).

It should be added that the use of sex- and/or age-matched controls does not appear to be critical. The present inventors demonstrated that the differences in D₃ specific mRNA levels between schizophrenics and healthy individuals, determined by either densitometry or PCR-ELISA, were similar when compared with additional, not necessarily matched, controls (Table 4). This observation may be valuable in designing a practical assay wherein PBL from two or more healthy individuals may be pooled for use as a control.

In conclusion, these findings strongly suggest that D₃-receptor mRNA levels in PBLs may serve as a convenient and reliable peripheral marker for schizophrenia, thus assist in early diagnosis (which is frequently unclear), and possible follow-up of the illness.

EXAMPLE 2

Thirty four patients were included in this study, 14 men and 20 women, ranging from 18 to 67 year of age. Of these, 20 were hospitalized schizophrenic patients, and 14 unmedicated patients that were examined during their first hospitalization. 21 healthy controls were studied, 11 nonsmokers and 10 smokers, 8 male and 13 female ranging from 31 to 62 years of age. Table 5 summarizes the details (age, sex and diagnosis) of schizophrenic patients and healthy controls participating in this study.

RNA was prepared from blood samples and RT-PCR was performed on total RNA, using specific primers for the α7 AChR, and for β-actin as a control. The specific PCR products were resolved on 1.5% agarose gels. As depicted in FIG. 2, the signals for α7 AChR were significantly lower in 3 schizophrenic patients than in 3 healthy controls. Quantification of the intensities of the specific α7 AChR and M-actin bands was performed by densitometry. The results obtained in 28 experiments are summarized in Table 6a. For each individual, a ratio of the measured density value for the α7 AChR to the value for β-actin was determined. Each patient was tested 1-4 times. As seen in Table 6a, 10 of the 34 tested patients had no detectable band for α7 AChR. The α7 AChR/β-actin ratios for these patients was arbitrarily determined as <0.1 (lower than the smallest calculated ratio in Table 6a). The α7 AChR/β-actin ratios for healthy controls (HL), schizophrenic patients (S) and unmedicated patients (first hospitalization, FH) obtained in all experiments are depicted in FIG. 3. The average values were 0.88±0.18, 0.36±0.30 and 0.34±0.26 for healthy. controls, schizophrenic patients and unmedicated patients, respectively.

To determine the significance of the difference between healthy and schizophrenic patients, the α7 AChR/β-actin ratios obtained for 11 different healthy controls and for 14 different schizophrenic patients were compared by Sign test. In each experiment, the values obtained for the schizophrenic patients are significantly lower than for the corresponding healthy individuals (P<0.004).

The reduction in the level of α7 AChR mRNA observed in schizophrenic patients was calculated by the following equation: 100−100[(α7 AChR/β-actin S)/(α7 AChR/β-actin Hav)]. First, the average α7 AChR/β-actin ratios of all healthy controls in a given experiment was calculated (Hav). The decrease (%) of the α7 AChR mRNA for each patient was obtained after subtracting the % of (α7 AChR/β-actin S)/(α7 AChR/β-actin Hav) ratio from 100%. The % of decrease for al experiments were calculated, and are depicted in the last column of Table 6a. As seen in this Table, there were only 8 determinations (representing 6 different patients), in which the percent decrease was lower than 20%. All the other determinations inpatients resulted in significant decreases in the α7 AChR mRNA levels, ranging from 20% to 98% decrease. So far, the present inventors have not observed a correalation between the percent decrease of α7 AChR mRNA and the disease state. However, it is interesting to point out that one unmedicated patient (FH2) that was tested in his first hospitalization, and exhibited a very low % decrease in its α7 AChR mRNA (5.1%, representing an average of three independent determinations), turned to be non schizophrenic following detailed psychiatric evaluation.

The incidence of smoking in a mental illness, particularly in schizophrenia, is much higher than in the general population, 74-92% compared to 30-55%, respectively (Olincy et al., 1999); We have, therefore, tested whether smoking by itself has an effect on α7 AChR mRNA levels. Blood samples from healthy smokers that smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, and from healthy nonsmokers were analyzd for their α7 AChR mRNA levels. As depicted in Table 6b; there were no significant differences in the α7 AChR/β-actin ratios of smokers and nonsmokers. This suggests that the decrease in α7 AChR mRNA levels in schizophrenic patients is not a result of smoking. The α7 AChR/β-actin ratios for healthy smokers and nonsmokers are depicted in FIG. 4, demonstrating average ratios of 0.83±0.097 and 0.89±0.097, for smokers and nonsmokers, respectively.

The dopaminergic hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that hyperactivity of dopamine transmission is responsible for the symptoms of this disorder. In the first example of the present invention we have demonstrated increased levels of D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA in PBLs of schizophrenic patients, when compared with the levels in healthy controls. In this example, the present inventors analyzed the mRNA levels of both D₃ dopamine receptor and of the α7 AChR in PBLs of a small group of patients. As expected, the. levels of D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA were increased, whereas the levels of α7 AChR mRNA were decreased. As shown in Table 7, an increase of 55.52% in the levels of D₃ receptor mRNA and a decrease of 63.66% in the levels of α7 AChR mRNA were observed for patient SC8. The availability of two different biological markers (the mRNA level of D₃ dopamine receptor and α7 AChR) that can be both tested in PBLs makes the evaluation of schizoprenic patients by a peripheral and objective test, rather promising. Moreover, the fact that the mRNA level of these two receptor mRNAs changes in an opposite direction in schizophrenia, i.e., the gene expression of D₃ receptor increases, whereas the gene expression of α7 AChR decreases in PBLs of schizophrenic patients, that correlates with the changes in these receptors in the brain (as observed in post mortem schizophrenic patients), makes these assays experimentally convenient and reliable.

In conclusion, the decreased levels of mRNA of the α7 AChR in PBLs of schizophrenic patients, as presented herein, is consistent with earlier reports demonstrating a decrease in α7 AChR in post mortem brains of schizophrenic patients. Such correlation between decreased levels of α7 AChR mRNA in PBLs and the expression of schizophrenia justifies its application as a biological marker for this disease. TABLE 1 Characterization of patients (Example 1). Number Age Sex Diagnosis Comments Schizophrenic Patients:  S1 21 M Chronic negative schizophrenia  S2 27 M Chronic negative schizophrenia  S3 25 M Chronic negative schizophrenia  S4 27 F Positive psychosis  S5 49 F Acute schizophrenia  S6 57 F Residual Schizophrenia  S7 41 M Undifferentiated schizophrenia  S8 54 M Paranoid schizophrenia  S9 47 M Undifferentiated schizophrenia S10 42 M Undifferentiated schizophrenia S11 42 M Paranoid schizophrenia S12 21 M Undifferentiated schizophrenia Non-medicated S13 40 F Paranoid schizophrenia Non-medicated Healthy Controls:  C1 45 F  C2 37 F  C3 37 M  C4 62 F  C5 22 M  C6 44 M  C7 31 M  C8 32 M  C9 49 F C10 27 M C11 36 F

TABLE 2 Densitometric evaluation of D₃ and D₄ mRNA levels in patients as compared with their levels in healthy individuals. (Example 1) A. Schizophrenic patients: Controls: D₃ fold β-actin D₃ β-actin D₃ increase Number Arb. units Arb. units D₃/β-actin Number Arb. units Arb. units D₃/β-actin (S/C) S1 67 51 0.671 C3 86 23 0.267 2.513 S2 87 56 0.643 C3 86 23 0.267 2.408 S3 82 60 0.731 C3 86 23 0.267 2.737 S4 98 100 1.02 C2 95 61 0.642 1.588 S5 55 143 2.600 C2 58 59 1.017 2.556 S6 75 153 2.040 C4 79 70 0.886 2.302 S7 19 171 9.000 C10 85 163 1.917 4.694 S8 138 426 3.087 C8 425 176 0.414 7.456 S9 89 60 0.674 C7 121 28 0.231 2.917 S10 107 71 0.663 C7 121 28 0.231 2.870 S11 303 277 0.914 C3 271 29 0.107 6.644 S12 319 227 0.711 C7 273 86 0.315 2.257 S13 237 354 1.493 C9 199 130 0.653 12.870 B. Controls: Schizophrenic patients: β-actin D₄ D₄ fold β-actin D₄ Arb. Arb. D₄/β- increase Number Arb. units Arb. units D₄/β-actin Number units units actin (S/C) S1 74 70 0.945 C3 67 70 1.044 0.905 S2 71 72 1.010 C3 67 70 1.044 0.967 S3 72 74 1.027 C3 67 70 1.044 0.983 S4 67 71 1.059 C2 82 73 0.890 1.189

TABLE 3 Evaluation by PCR-ELISA of D3 mRNA levels in patients as compared with their levels in healthy individuals. (Example 1) Schizophrenic patients: Controls: D₃ fold β-actin D₃ β-actin D₃ increase Number (O.D) (O.D) D₃/β-actin Number (O.D) (O.D) D₃/β-actin (S/C) S1 0.556 0.868 1.56 C8 0.918 0.552 0.601 2.595 S2 0.808 2.225 2.75 C9 0.405 0.33 0.814 3.378 S3 0.224 0.253 1.13 C8 0.533 0.272 0.510 2.215 S4 0.629 0.394 0.626 C8 0.876 0.316 0.360 1.738 S5 0.340 0.823 2.420 C2 0.365 0.533 1.46 1.657 S6 0.339 0.899 2.652 C3 0.368 0.444 1.206 2.199

TABLE 4 Evaluation of D₃ mRNA levels in patients as compared with their levels in several healthy individuals (Example 1) Controls: Schizophrenia patients: D₃/β− Number Number actin Ratio S8 3.087 C8 0.414 7.456 C9 0.498 6.198 S5 2.600 C2 1.017 2.6 C3 1.145 2.27 C4 0.886 2.934 S6 2.040 C2 1.017 2.005 C3 1.145 1.78 C4 0.886 2.302 S4 1.02 C2 0.642 1.588 C8 0.656 1.554

TABLE 5 Characteristics of patients and healthy donors (Example 2) Sample Age Gender Diagnosis Healthy controls (nonsmokers) HL16 49 F HL15 32 M HL14 31 M HL10 37 M  HL5 40 M  HL9 39 F HL18 36 F HL11 62 F  HL6 35 M HL19 32 M HL20 35 F Healthy smokers  SM1 52 F  SM2 35 M  SM3 35 F  SM4 41 M  SM6 44 F  SM7 37 F  SM8 45 F  SM9 54 F SM10 55 F SM11 50 F Schizophrenic patients  SP1 21 M Schizophrenia-residual type  SP2 27 M Schizophrenia-paranoid type  SP3 25 M Schizophrenia-undifferentiated type  SP7 49 F Schizophrenia-paranoid type  SP8 57 F Schizophrenia-residual type  SP9 31 F Schizophrenia-paranoid type SP12 56 F Schizophrenia-undifferentiated type SP13 54 M Schizophrenia-paranoid type SP15 31 F Schizophrenia-paranoid type SP19 54 F Schizophrenia-paranoid type SP20 45 F Schizophrenia  BY8 39 M Schizophrenia-residual type  BY9 62 F Disorganized Schizophrenia BY10 67 F Disorganized Schizophrenia BY11 50 M Schizophrenia  SC6 51 M Schizophrenia  SC7 24 F Schizophrenia  SC8 64 F Schizophrenia SC10 63 F Schizophrenia  SP5 65 F Schizophrenia-undifferentiated type Schizophrenic patients (First hospitalization) BY14 40 F Schizophrenia-paranoid type  FH2 30 F  FH3 27 M Personality disorder  FH4 40 M Psychotic episode  FH5 18 M Schizophrenia  FH6 21 M Personality disorder  FH7 26 M Acute psychotic disorder  FH9 26 F Schizophrenia-moderately ill FH10 23 F Schizophrenia-markedly ill FH11 20 F Schizophrenia-moderately ill FH12 35 M Acute psychotic disorder FH13 38 M Schizophrenia-moderately ill FH14 20 F Acute psychotic disorder FH15 48 F Acute psychotic disorder

TABLE 6a Evaluation of α7/β-actin mRNA levels of schizophrenic patients compared to healthy controls (Example 2) Schizophrenic patients Healthy controls Exp. β-actin α7 Sample β-actin α7 No. Sample No. (arb. Units) (arb. Units) α7/β-actin No. (arb. Units) (arb. Units) α7/β -actin Decrease % 1 SP1 206.49 75.77 .37 HL16 228.25 223.65 .98 59.99 SP2 220.25 109.33 .496 HL15 235.74 230.62 .99 45.87 SP3 215.3 91.46 .42 HL14 206.45 163.76 .79 53.68 2 SP7 155.53 134.14 .86 HL16 166.3 152.18 .92 17.35 SP8 168.35 140.64 .84 HL5 131.47 154.08 1.17 19.95 SP9 135.95 112.06 .82 21.01 3 SP3 133.48 118.31 .89 HL16 104.04 138.75 1.33 23.08 SP12 143.23 123.66 .86 HL15 130.7 118.01 .90 25.07 HL14 106.07 129.44 1.22 4 SP19 173.83 93.35 .54 HL14 175.14 138.94 .79 41.15 SP15 159.95 undetectable <0.1 HL19 175.91 164.57 .94 >89.05 HL16 164.39 165.8 1.01 5 BY8 108.54 80.63 .74 HL16 114.12 131.7 1.15 35.63 BY10 97.75 undetectable <0.1 >91.31 BY11 101.5 undetectable <0.1 >91.31 6 BY14 182.8 114 .62 HL18 181.07 128.85 .69 10.27 7 FH2 221.62 188.4 .85 HL18 241.88 210.59 .87 3.97 SP19 228.01 138.64 .61 HL15 236.86 194.03 .82 31.31 SP20 171.5 undetectable <0.1 HL11 235.08 227.08 .97 >88.72 SP3 202.13 undetectable <0.1 >88.72 BY10 240.7 179.56 .75 15.73 8 SC7 170.88 144.4 .85 HL6 148.91 144.1 .97 12.63 SC10 124.7 95.67 .77 20.72 FH6 162.22 undetectable <0.1 >90.30 SC6 158.41 undetectable <0.1 >90.30 9 SC7 201.25 127.85 .64 HL6 187.14 157.69 .84 24.61 SC10 215.77 86.5 .40 52.42 FH6 201.53 81.66 .41 51.91 FH7 165.53 68.99 .42 50.54 SC6 180.86 undetectable <0.1 >88.10 SC8 209.27 undetectable <0.1 >88.10 10 FH2 227.06 199.01 .88 HL11 229.63 170.67 0.74 −9.80 HL14 239.21 204.11 0.85 11 SP3 190.77 51.58 .27 HL9 190.34 123.79 .65 58.43 12 SP1 166.62 90.67 .54 HL5 155.5 100.14 .64 41.36 SP2 167.84 90 .54 HL9 164.2 103.37 .63 42.22 SP3 157.41 undetectable <0.1 HL9 167.36 102.55 .61 >85.62 SP20 145.1 undetectable <0.1 HL14 167.28 150.2 .90 >85.62 13 SP15 126.61 undetectable <0.1 HL10 154.99 85.57 0.55 >81.31 HL9 145.48 74.96 0.52 14 SP3 186.89 undetectable <0.1 HL9 177.55 137.62 0.78 >86.85 SP15 166.82 undetectable <0.1 HL10 170.43 139.54 0.82 >86.85 SP19 181.28 undetectable <0.1 HL15 170.05 100.22 0.59 >86.85 15 SP9 166.45 undetectable <0.1 HL15 168.02 90.39 0.54 >80.59 SP19 139.61 undetectable <0.1 HL16 168.81 91.01 0.54 >80.59 HL10 166.02 81.96 0.49 HL18 168.06 82.67 0.49 16 SP19 220.14 undetectable <0.1 HL14 217.55 131.95 0.61 >85.30 SP20 197.13 undetectable <0.1 HL5 203.7 153.4 0.75 >85.30 17 SP15 179.26 undetectable <0.1 HL9 209.93 146.15 0.70 >85.72 18 FH2 61.84 26.08 0.52 HL18 76.29 46.87 0.61 21.94 FH3 54.38 4.93 0.11 HL11 72.83 52.98 0.73 83.00 19 FH3 63.37 6.54 0.10 HL5 29.82 14.75 0.49 74.90 SP9 52.77 undetectable <0.1 >79.60 SP5 32.03 undetectable <0.1 >79.60 SP12 45.16 undetectable <0.1 >79.60 SP13 20.1 undetectable <0.1 >79.60 FH4 60.35 undetectable <0.1 >79.60 20 FH7 43.61 10 0.23 SM7 95.28 55.89 0.59 65.26 FH9 99.78 14.48 0.15 SM8 105.05 72.68 0.69 78.01 FH5 81.75 undetectable <0.1 SM9 84.78 49.92 0.59 >84.85 SM10 89 68.77 0.77 21 FH9 92.99 50.54 0.54 SM9 81.75 69.1 0.85 35.70 FH7 94.76 undetectable <0.1 >88.24 SC6 79.03 undetectable <0.1 >88.24 22 FH9 63.85 32.77 0.51 SM9 63.48 50.93 0.80 36.03 FH7 53.35 undetectable <0.1 >87.5 23 SC8 66.84 6.25 0.09 C3 84.21 17.32 0.21 54.54 SC6 39.37 undetectable <0.1 >52.39 24 FH9 92.3 47.22 0.51 H2 127.12 111.29 0.88 46.85 FH10 66.85 undetectable <0.1 HL6 127.53 133.84 1.05 >89.64 25 FH11 95.22 76.43 0.80 C3 99.08 103.75 1.05 23.35 FH12 101.4 92.47 0.91 12.91 FH13 93.01 82.36 0.89 15.44 FH14 72.02 34.75 0.48 53.92 FH15 101.95 26.55 0.26 75.13 26 FH15 108.85 38.52 0.35 C3 120.6 119.12 0.99 64.17 FH14 95.75 undetectable <0.1 >89.9 27 SC8 67.04 0.75 0.01 C3 71.26 64.85 0.91 98.78 FH14 47.29 3.21 0.07 92.54 FH15 74.17 29.25 0.39 56.67 28 BY9 212.5 94.95 0.45 HL18 187.8 114.39 0.61 35.71

TABLE 6b Evaluation of α7/β-actin mRNA levels of smokers compared to non smokers (Example 2) Smokers (healthy controls) Non smokers (healthy controls) Exp Sample β-actin α7 Sample β-actin α7 60 7/β- No. No. (arb. Units) (arb. Units) α7/β-actin No. (arb. Units) (arb. Units actin Decrease % 1 SM1 245.51 228.35 .93 HL11 229.63 170.67 0.74 −16.52 SM3 235.09 187.18 .80 HL14 239.21 204.11 0.85 .26 SM4 228.96 192.34 .84 −5.24 2 SM6 148.88 125.74 .84 HL6 148.91 144.1 .97 12.72 SM7 170.86 125.14 .73 24.31 SM8 170.29 149.14 .88 9.50 3 SM7 216.7 223.81 1.03 HL6 187.14 157.69 .84 −22.57 SM8 165.87 117.62 .71 15.85 4 SM1 240.84 202.56 0.84 HL18 241.88 210.59 .87 4.99 HL15 236.86 194.03 .82 HL11 235.08 227.08 .97 References

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1. A method for the diagnosis and follow up of a mental disorder or of a neurodegenerative disorder in an individual, comprising: (i) measuring mRNA of D₃ dopamine receptor and/or of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 AChR) and of a control gene in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between α7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the tested individual and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase in the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder, wherein said increase in the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and/or decrease in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual is correlated to said mental disorder or neurodegenerative disorder.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said mental disorder is schizophrenia, maniac depression, Tourette syndrom, or a similar disorder.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said generative disorder is Parkinson's disease, disease, or Huntington disease.
 4. A method according to claim 1 for the diagnosis and follow up of schizophrenia in an individual, comprising: (i) measuring mRNA of D₃ dopamine receptor and/or of α7 AChR and of a control gene in PBLs of said individual and one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA and/or the ratio between the α7 AChR and the control gene mRNA for each and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the individual tested for schizophrenia and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase of above 1.6 fold in the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and/or a decrease of more than 20% in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicate that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having schizophrenia.
 5. A method according to claim 4 for the diagnosis and follow up of schizophrenia in an individual, comprising: (i) measuring mRNA of D₃ dopamine receptor and of a control gene in PBLs of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the individual tested for schizophrenia and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein an increase of above 1.6 fold in the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicates that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having schizophrenia.
 6. A method according to claim 4 for the diagnosis and follow up of schizophrenia in an individual, comprising: (i) measuring mRNA of the α7 AChR and of a control gene in PBLs of said individual and of at least one healthy control individual; (ii) calculating the ratio between the α7 AChR mRNA and the control gene mRNA for each individual; and (iii) evaluating the ratio between the ratios obtained in (ii) for the individual tested for schizophrenia and for the at least one healthy control individual, wherein a decrease of more than 20% in the α7 AChR mRNA in the tested individual in comparison to healthy individuals, indicates that said tested individual has a high likelihood of having schizophrenia.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mRNA of D₃ dopamine receptor, of α7 AChR and of the control gene in step (i) is measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the control gene is β-actin.
 9. A method according to claim 1, which comprises calculating in step (ii) the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and/or the ratio between the α7 AChR and the control gene mRNA of the individual tested for a mental or neurodegenerative disorder and the ratio between the D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA and/or the ratio between the α7 AChR and the control gene mRNA of a sole healthy individual.
 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said mental disorder is schizophrenia and in the schizophrenic individual the increase of D₃ dopamine receptor mRNA evaluated in step (iii) is of 2-4 folds and/or the decrease of the α7 AChR mRNA evaluated in step (iii) is 20-98%, in comparison to healthy individuals,.
 11. A kit for use in a method according to claim
 1. 12. A kit according to claim 11, comprising: (i) means for isolating mRNA from PBL; (ii) means for reverse transcription and for PCR; and (iii) means for detection of PCR products.
 13. A kit according to claim 12, further comprising means for separating PBL from whole blood. 